University of Minnesota Athletics
Tapp Named All-Big Ten Preseason
8/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The University of Minnesota volleyball team was tabbed to finish fifth in the 2015 Big Ten Preseason Poll, while junior middle blocker Paige Tapp landed a spot on the Preseason All-Big Ten team, announced today by the conference office.
Tapp, hailing from Stewartville, Minn., is one of four middle blockers to make the preseason list. As a sophomore, Tapp was a 2014 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and an All-Big Ten selection. Playing in 110 sets for the Gophers, Tapp finished the 2014 campaign as the nation's third-best blocker and led the Big Ten Conference in blocks per set, as she averaged 1.55. She hit over .400 in 14 matches during 2014 and had four contests where she recorded over 10 total blocks. Continuing her abilities on the international stage, Tapp was also named to USA Volleyball's Collegiate National Team that competed at the World University Games in South Korea in July 2015.
In all, the Golden Gophers return 10 letter winners from last year, including seven that saw starting action. The Gophers also add six newcomers to the list this season in senior Toni Alugbue, junior Margaret Eggert and freshmen Sophie Beckley, Samantha Seliger Swenson, Taylor Morgan and Kayla Buford.
Minnesota opens the season at the Stanford Invite when it faces Texas A&M on Saturday, August 29 and No. 2 Stanford, August 30 in Palo Alto, Calif.
